The Peru Gazette

The Town of Peru will be closing Maiden Lane from Woodland Drive to Winding Brook, tomorrow, Tuesday, November 16th from 8 am till 3:30 pm – for paving.

There will be NO through traffic including Emergency vehicles during that time period.

—

Carlene

W/S Billing

518-643-8125

Tony LaPierre

Helen Giroux

Jesse Mulbury

Todd Giroux

Joanna Laidback

State Senator Dan Stec

Assemblyman Billy Jones

Paul Fisher

Jon Rulfs introduces his father Bob Rulfs

By John T. Ryan

Peru – Several area dairy farmers, orchardists, farm advocates gathered at Rulfs Orchard last Tuesday. They want Albany political leaders and the State Wage Board to know that reducing the farm workers overtime threshold would severely impact their livelihood. In 2019,  the NYS Legislature passed, and the governor signed the Farm Laborers Labor Standards Act. It lowered the farmworker overtime threshold from 80 to 60 hours, meaning farmers must pay time and one-half for every hour worked over 60 hours per week. Labor advocates would like the overtime threshold reduced to 40 hours. Later this year, the State Wage Board is scheduled to revisit the issue. 

Jon Rulfs, the owner of Adirondack Farms in Peru, moderated the presentation.  Speakers included Paul Fisher, one of Rulfs’ Jamaican workers; Jesse Mulbury, Farm Manager of Northern Owners and Chairman of the New York Apple Growers Association; Helen Giroux of Chazy Orchards and Giroux Poultry Farm, Tony LaPierre, owner of Rusty Creek Farm in Chazy; Todd Giroux, President of the Clinton County Farm Bureau, Joann Laidback Adirondack Farms CFO, State Senator Dan Stec, and Assemblyman Billy Jones. 

Local orchardists rely on Jamaicans to harvest the apple crop during the six to eight week harvest period. Thanks to the Department of Labor’s H-2A program many Jamaicans have been coming here at harvest time for thirty or more years, which isn’t hard to understand since the H-2A entitles them to a minimum wage of $14.99 hourly. In Jamaica, the minimum wage is $45.12 per week.  Hundreds of Jamaicans work in Peru during harvest. Not only orchardists, but many other Peru residents look forward to their arrival. They’ve become part of Peru’s culture. 

Paul Fisher has been coming to Rulfs Orchard for twenty-seven years. He said Rulfs Orchard has been good for him and his family, including his sons Claude and Damion, who also work at Rulfs. However, Fisher said he and his sons had lost working hours since NYS imposed the 60-hour overtime limit. They have discussed finding work in another state if New York reduces the overtime limit even further. 

Jesse Mulbury emphasized that the program works well for both visiting workers and local workers.  He said, “The H-2A program is a huge opportunity for the workers and their families. It’s a win-win for both the participating employees and the orchards. The program also ensures that domestic workers make as much, if not more.” Mulbury envisions Jamaican workers going to states that don’t have overtime limits. He said, “Local orchards will not be able to afford the overtime and likely will not survive if the threshold goes any lower. We can’t control apple prices like the manufacturers of an iPhone.” 

Helen Giroux of Chazy Orchards, a 3rd generation farmer, said growing apples is a calculated risk involving many factors, including when and how quickly the farmer must harvest the crop. She said, “This year, everything seemed to come at the same time, so we had to go full out. If labor costs continue to rise, growers will not reinvest back into the orchards.”  She foresees farmers cutting back on tractor and equipment purchases and fears that smaller producers would face the most challenging decisions. 

5th generation dairy farmer Tony LaPierre emphasized that it’s impossible to find local workers to care for his 1,000 head herd . He said, “If labor costs rise, introducing more technology will be the next step.” Todd Giroux said he’s already introduced robots into the milking operation at his Beekmantown farm. 

Joanna Laidback said a 40-hour overtime threshold would increase Adirondack Farm’s labor costs by about 15%, a considerable sum on a farm that has 120 full-time employees. She added, “New York farmers would experience an overall labor cost increase estimated at $264 million in an economic sector that already has tight margins.” Laidback also noted the environmental impacts when farms shut down, saying, “You would lose that person who cares for the land.”

State Senator Dan Stec stressed the competition New York apple growers face, especially from the state of Washington. Large corporations, not family farms, operate most of Washington’s orchards. Washington’s orchards are larger and have fewer environmental regulations resulting in a lower cost of production. Speaking of the state legislature he commented, “ We’re begging farms to stay in NYS. We’re putting budget dollars into preserving farms, but raising the overtime threshold is the exactly the opposite.”  Stec concluded, “New York apples may taste the best, but if there’s a big price difference, people are not going to buy New York apples…New York Wage Board, I hope you’re listening. Governor Kathy Hochul, I hope you’re listening.” 

Assemblyman Billy Jones recalled his experience growing up on a Chateaugay dairy farm. He said, “At one time, there were eleven farms along the road where he grew up. Today’s there one.” Addressing the Wage Board, he said, “Leave it at 60. That’s all we’re asking. Farming is a unique profession. As the old expression says, farmers have to make hay when the sun shines.” 

Jones is correct about farming’s decline in New York State. According to state statistics, between 20o8 and 2018, dairy farms declined from 5,623 to 4,194 or 25%. From 2017 to 2018, the number of farms decreased by 6% in just a single year. 

Click here to view that report. 

For more statistics on the farmer’s point of view, Click here to see a view report issue from the Farm Credit East, a leading agriculture institute. 

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Performances to take place November 12-13, 2021 

A fantastic selection of songs are featured in this brand new musical revue from shows including Rent, Into the Woods, Disney’s Mary Poppins, Fiddler on the Roof, Disney’s Frozen, Little Shop of Horrors, Come From Away, and many more!

Peru, NY – Peru Drama Club announced that they will be joining thousands of theatrical organizations around the globe by producing their own local production of Music Theatre International’s All Together Now!: A Global Event Celebrating Local Theatre. Theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI) created this revue for theatres across the globe to use as a local fundraising event performed over the same weekend of November 12, 2021.  Peru Drama Club’s performances are scheduled for November 12th at 7:30PM, and November 13th at 2PM and 7:30PM. 

All Together Now! features songs from MTI’s beloved catalogue of musicals including Annie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Come From Away, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins, Fiddler on the Roof, Into the Woods, Little Shop of Horrors, Rent, and many more!

MTI’s President and CEO, Drew Cohen stated, “MTI’s All Together Now! is about bringing people back to the theatre, whether as audience members or cast, crew and musicians. The revue features songs from the world’s most iconic musicals, so there is definitely something for everyone to enjoy. Our goal with this worldwide event is for organizations to provide hope, inspiration and excitement to their communities through the transformative power of musical theatre.

Students, and a few special guests, have worked hard over the last six weeks to bring this revue to fruition, and we are excited to welcome back audiences into the air-conditioned Peru Jr/Sr High Auditorium for the first time since March of 2020! 

Tickets are $5 in advance and are available in school and online at http://perucsd.seatyourself.biz .  At the door student tickets will remain $5 and all others will be $7.  Also available are livestream tickets for either Saturday performance for $8.  Please call 518-551-0811 or email perudramaclub@gmail.com for more information.

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By John T. Ryan

Peru – The public had its opportunity to voice its opinion on Peru’s 2022 budget at a November 4th public hearing. Not a single Peru resident expressed an opinion. The board will vote on the budget at a Monday, Nov.15 budget meeting.

Tax rates will be relatively stable except for the Peru Sewer rate, which increases $.1582 per thousand thanks to $7,968 in health insurance estimated increases and $19,917 in bond principal and interest payments. The cost of the ongoing sewer system upgrade is beginning to impact the budget. Allocation of $30,000 in highway line striping from the highway department budget to the general budget accounts for a slight increase in the general spending budget and a virtually stable highway budget. General spending includes town supervisor, town board, town clerk, planning, zonings, assessor, dog control, parks, etc., plus the town court.

In dollar terms town general spending increases from $1,596,434 to $1,710,565. Town Highway spending increases from $1,778,777 to $1,825,065. Peru Sewer spending increases from 363,670 to $393,292. Valcour Sewer spending increases $61,759 to $70,720. Peru Water spending decreases from $785,266 to $767,746 thanks to completing payments on a 2011 bond series. An increase in the total assessed value of town accounts for at least part of the tax rate stability. Careful leadership attention to budget details is also critical.

Town General Tax Rate for 2022 is $2.3364 per M vs. $2.2461 this year.

Town Highway Tax Rate for 2022 is $2.2585 vs $2.269 this year.

Town Water Districts 1,2,3 Tax Rate for 2022 is $1.3885 vs. 1.9146 this year.

Peru Sewer #1 Tax Rate for 2022 is $.3634 vs. $.2052 this year.

Valcour Sewer #1 Tax Rate for 2022 is $.3343 vs. $.3478 this year.

Valcour Sewer #2 Tax Rate for 2022 $.5596 vs. $.5726 this year.

Peru Fire District Tax Rate for 2022 $1.2813 vs. $1.2706 this year.

Budgets Town 2022 CLICK HERE TO REVIEW

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